To apply for a competition to join the territorial public service, you must complete the general conditions for access to the public service.

You must also meet the requirements of the special status of the employment framework which you want to access.

Depending on the type of job, these conditions may be conditions of diploma, seniority, special physical aptitude, etc.

There are 3 types of competitions for access to job managers in the territorial public service:

• Competition external
• Competition internal
• Competition called 3^e competition.

Requirements for running for an external competition

External competitions are open to candidates with certain diplomas or evidence of completion of certain studies.

Level of diploma required

To enter an external competition category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the job framework you want to access.

To enter an external competition category B, you must have a Bac to Bac + 2 degree, depending on the job framework you want to access.

To enter an external competition category C, you must have a level 3 diploma (CAP, BEP, college certificate).

Unless there are other provisions in the special status of the job manager to which you wish to accede, you must meet the diploma requirement on the date of 1^re test of the contest.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the diplomas of the candidates, you must fulfill the condition of diploma at date of 1^re jury meeting responsible for the selection of files.

Equivalence of diploma

If you do not have the required diploma, you can, under conditions, still enter the competition if you can prove a qualification equivalent to the diploma required.

This equivalent qualification may be attested by one of the following:

• Other diploma or certificate proving that you have successfully completed a course of study at least equivalent to the diploma required
• Diploma awarded in another country of the European Economic Area
• Professional experience falling within the same socio-professional category as that of the profession to which the competition gives access.

Diploma equivalence can be granted automatically if you have a diploma of the same level as that required.

It can also be granted after examination of your file by an equivalence commission of diplomas and diplomas.

You must submit your application for equivalency at the time of registration in the contest to the organizing authority of the contest.

Diploma waiver

If you are parent of at least 3 children, you can enter any contest without being subject to the diploma condition.

If you justify a diploma or a military qualificationHowever, this diploma or qualification may, under certain conditions, replace the diploma required by the particular status of the job manager to which you wish to accede.

If you are or have been high-level athlete listed by the ministry in charge of sports, you can enter any competition without being subject to the condition of diploma.

Requirements for standing in a closed competition

You can enter a closed competition if you complete one of the following conditions :

• Be a civil servant or military officer or magistrate on active employment, secondment or parental leave
• Be a contract worker or on parental leave
• Work in an international intergovernmental organization.

You must have completed a fixed period of public service and possibly have received some training.

The length of public services, and possibly the training, required are determined by the particular status of the job manager to which you wish to have access.

You can also enter a closed competition if you fill out the following 3 conditions :

• You are a national of a country of the European Economic Area or a national of the Principality of Andorra or the Principality of Monaco or Switzerland
• You prove a period of service in an administration, organization or establishment of one of these countries whose missions are comparable to those of French public administrations and establishments
• In one of these countries, you have received training equivalent to that required by the special status of the body to which you wish to have access.

The length of service required is determined by the particular status of the job manager you wish to access.

You must meet the condition of duration of public services, and possibly of training, fixed by the special status of the job manager to which you wish to access, at the date of the 1^re competition test.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the qualifications of the candidates, you must meet this condition in the date of 1^re jury meeting responsible for the selection of files.

The particular status of the job manager you wish to access may provide for other arrangements.

Requirements for entering a "3rd competition"

The competition called 3^e competition address to the candidate who has exercised for a fixed periodone of the following activities :

• One or more professional activities, whatever their nature
• One or more local elected office
• One or more activities as head of an association (voluntary or not).

The period required shall be fixed by the special status the job box you want to access.

The duration of these activities or mandates is taken into account if you were not a public officer, magistrate or military member when you exercised them.

However, if you have been a trade union employee while a public official, the length of time you have been a trade union employee is taken into account.

You must meet the length of service condition set by the special status of the job manager you wish to access, on the date of 1^re competition test.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1^re meeting of the selection panel.

The particular status of the job manager you wish to access may provide for other arrangements.

The assistance may consist of either tests (written and/or oral), or in a selection on titles and works candidates by a jury.

The events can be organized remotely by videoconference. In this case, the order for the opening of the competition shall indicate whether the use of videoconferencing may be requested:

• Or, only by candidates residing in a French overseas territory or abroad, with a disability, in a pregnancy situation or whose state of health so requires
• Either by any candidate.

Applicants wishing to use videoconferencing shall be informed by the organizing authority of the contest, by post or by electronic means, of the material conditions for organizing the tests.

Written and/or oral tests

The tests may consist of an administrative note, short answer questions (QRC), etc.

They may consist in the presentation by the candidate of his or her stated professional experience acquired from professional experience, whatever it may be, including in the form of civic service.

The tests may also consist of a placement in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.

Selection on titles and work by a jury

Candidates are selected either on the basis of diplomas or on the basis of diplomas and work accomplished by the candidate.

This selection may be supplemented by tests.

Vocational experience may also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and studies.

Competitions for admission to the territorial civil service shall be organized by the following authorities:

• CNFPT: titleContent for categories A + (administrator, chief engineer, library curator, heritage curator)
• Management Centers for other categories A and B and C
• Local and regional authorities not affiliated to a management center for C-category jobs
• Ministry of the Interior for officer firefighters
• Departmental Fire and Rescue Services (Sdis) for the Non-Officer Fire Fighters Class C Occupations.

Enrollment in a contest is usually done online.

A summons to the tests is addressed to you.

The results are available online.

You are also informed by post of your admission or not to the contest.

Eligibility and Job Search

A list of suitable candidates shall be drawn up for each competition, in alphabetical order.

The following persons shall also be entered on the list of suitable candidates within the limit of the number of posts declared vacant for which the competition has been opened:

• Candidates admitted to a previous competition who have not yet been appointed as trainees
• Trainee territorial officials whose internship ended prior to tenure for a reason other than service.

Once registered on this listHowever, you must seek employment by applying to local communities and public institutions.

The list of suitable candidates is valid throughout France. You can therefore seeking employment throughout the country.

Each local authority or establishment shall publish its job vacancies on its website.

You shall remain on the list of suitable candidates for Two years.

If at the end of the 2 years you have not found a job, you can ask in writing to the organizing authority of the competition to which you have been admitted, to be re-registered for a 3^e year.

And if at the end of the 3 years you have not found a job, you can apply to be re-enrolled for a 4^e year.

If at the end of the 4 years you have not found a job, you lose the benefit of the competition.

If you are admitted to a competition for entry to a category A post office +, you are nominated by the CNFPT: titleContent and receive initial training at the Institut National des Études Territoriales (Inet) for a period determined by the particular status of the job manager you wish to access.

It is only at the end of this training that you are placed on a list of suitable candidates and that you can look for a job.

Condition for re-inclusion on the list of suitable candidates

You must formulate your request for re-registration on the list of suitable candidates at least 1 month before the end date of your current registration.

The maximum period of 4 years to be included on the list of suitability shall be suspended for subsequent periods :

• Parental, maternity, adoption, parental and family solidarity leave
• Long-term leave
• Fulfillment of local elected office
• Recruitment on a temporary basis as a contractor in the territorial civil service to replace an employee or contractor who is temporarily unavailable on a job within the job framework for which you have applied
• Civic service engagement.

If you have been recruited by a territorial employer as a probationary employee and if it is end of your internship before your tenure because of the termination of your employment or for any reason other than your manner of service, you may request in writing from the organizing authority of the contest to which you have been admitted, be reinstated on the list of suitable candidates.

The total duration of your enrollment on the aptitude list (before and after your probationary period) is limited to 4 years.

If no competition for access to your job framework has been organized within this period, you will remain on the list of suitable candidates until the date of the organization of a new competition.

If you refuse 2 job offers sent by a community or institution to the organizing authority of the competition, you are removed from the list of suitability and lose the benefit of the competition.

To enter a competition for admission to the hospital public service, you must complete the general conditions for access to the public service.

You must also meet the requirements of the special status of the body which you want to access.

Depending on the target body, these conditions may be conditions of diploma, seniority, particular physical aptitude, age, etc.

When a age limit is planned, it can be deleted or postponed if you are in any of the following:

• You have a disability and can benefit from the obligation to employ
• You made a civic service or an international volunteer mission
• You are a European national and have performed the national service in your country of origin
• You are or have been a high-performance athlete on the list established by the Ministry of Sport
• You are a parent of at least 3 children and live as a couple or you are single parent one or more children.

There are 3 types of competitions for access to hospital public service bodies:

• Competition external
• Competition internal
• Competition called 3^e competition.

Requirements for running for an external competition 

External competitions are open to candidates with certain diplomas or evidence of completion of certain studies.

To enter an external competition category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the body you want to access.

To enter an external competition category B, you must have a Bac to Bac + 2 level diploma, depending on the body you want to access.

To enter an external competition category C, you must have a level 3 diploma (CAP, BEP, college certificate).

Unless the special status of the body to which you wish to accede provides for other provisions, you must fulfill the condition of diploma on the date of 1^re competition test.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet the diploma requirement on the date of 1^re jury meeting responsible for the selection of files.

Equivalence of diploma

If you don't have the required degree, you can still enter the contest, subject to conditions, if you have a qualification equivalent to the diploma required.

This equivalent qualification may be attested by one of the following:

• Other diploma or certificate proving that you have successfully completed a course of study at least equivalent to the diploma required
• Diploma awarded in another country of the European Economic Area
• Professional experience falling within the same socio-professional category as that of the profession to which the competition gives access.

Equivalence degree can be granted automatically if you prove a diploma of the same level than the one required.

It can also be granted after examination of your file by an equivalence commission of diplomas and diplomas.

You must submit your application for equivalency at the time of registration in the contest to the organizing authority of the contest.

Diploma waiver

If you are parent of 3 or more childrens, you can enter any contest without being subject to the condition of diploma.

If you justify a diploma or a military qualification, this diploma or qualification may replace, under certain conditions, the diploma required by the particular status of the body to which you wish to accede.

If you are or have been high-level athlete listed by the ministry in charge of sports, you can enter any competition without being subject to the condition of diploma.

Requirements for standing in a closed competition

You can enter a closed competition if you complete one of the following conditions:

• Be a civil servant or military officer or magistrate on active employment, secondment or parental leave
• Be a contract worker or on parental leave
• Work in an international intergovernmental organization.

You must have completed a fixed period of public service and possibly have received some training.

The length of public services, and possibly the training, required are determined by the particular status of the body you wish to access.

You can also enter a closed competition if you complete the 3 conditions:

• You are a national of a country of the European Economic Area or a national of the Principality of Andorra or the Principality of Monaco or Switzerland
• You prove a period of service in an administration, body or establishment of one of these States whose missions are comparable to those of French public administrations and establishments
• In one of these countries, you have received training equivalent to that required by the special status of the body to which you wish to have access.

The length of service required is determined by the particular status of the body you want to access.

You must meet the condition of duration of public services, and possibly of training, fixed by the particular status of the body to which you wish to access, at the date of 1^re competition test.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the qualifications of the candidates, you must meet this condition in the date of 1^re jury meeting responsible for the selection of files.

The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.

Requirements for entering a "3rd competition"

The competition called 3^e competition is addressed to the candidate who has pursued for a fixed period one of the following activities :

• One or more professional activities, whatever their nature
• One or more local elected office
• One or more activities as head of an association (voluntary or not).

The period required shall be fixed by the special status the body you want to access.

The duration of these activities or mandates is taken into account if you were not a public officer, magistrate or military member when you exercised them.

However, if you have been a trade union employee while a public official, the length of time you have been a trade union employee is taken into account.

You must meet the length-of-service requirement set by the particular status of the body you want to access. on the date of 1^re competition test.

If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1^re jury meeting responsible for the selection of files.

The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.

The assistance may consist of either tests (written and/or oral), or selection on the basis of titles and works candidates by a jury.

The events can be organized remotely by videoconference. In this case, the order for the opening of the competition shall indicate whether the use of videoconferencing may be requested:

• Or, only by candidates residing in a French overseas territory or abroad, with a disability, in a pregnancy situation or whose state of health so requires
• Either by any candidate.

Applicants wishing to use videoconferencing shall be informed by the organizing authority of the contest, by post or by electronic means, of the material conditions for organizing the tests.

Written and/or oral tests

The tests may consist of an administrative note, short answer questions (QRC), etc.

They may consist in the presentation by the candidate of his or her stated professional experience acquired from professional experience, whatever it may be, including in the form of civic service.

The tests may also consist of a placement in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.

Selection on titles and work by a jury

Candidates are selected either on the basis of diplomas or on the basis of diplomas and works completed by the applicant.

This selection may be supplemented by tests.

Vocational experience may also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and studies.

General rules

The competitions are organized by the following authorities:

• National Center for the Management of Hospital Practitioners and Management Staff of the Hospital Public Service (CNG). It concerns management and senior administrative and caring staff (e.g. hospital administration attaché, hospital director, director of care)
• Public hospitals for other bodies. Competitions can be organized for several schools in a department or region. Competition notices are published on the web portal of the FPH competitions managed by the Ministry of Health.

Registration shall take place in accordance with the conditions laid down in the competition notice:

• Either online on the site of the organizing establishment
• Either by means of a file withdrawn on the spot or sent by post.

A summons to the tests is addressed to you.

Results are generally available online and by posting on the premises of the organizing institution and by post.

Training School

The competitions organized by the CNG are intended to allow you to integrate theSchool of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP).

This school has a dual mission of training and research in public health and social action.

The competitions organized by the CNG are those allowing access to the bodies of senior administrative and nursing staff of the hospital public service:

• Director of health, social and medico-social establishments
• Director of Care
• Hospital Director
• Hospital Administration Attaché.

Each competition results in the establishment of an LMaster List and Supplementary List ranking the successful candidates in order of merit.

Where the special status of the body so provides, the list of admitted candidates shall be drawn up in alphabetical order.

The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who cannot be appointed.

The supplementary list is also intended to make it possible to appoint officials to posts which have become vacant between two competitions.

Registration on these lists is not recruitment.

The number of posts which may be filled by the appointment of candidates on the supplementary list may not exceed a percentage, fixed by decree, of the total number of posts offered in the competition.

The supplementary list shall cease automatically on the date of opening of the following competition and, at the latest, 1 year after its date of drawing up.

Appointments shall be made in the order in which they appear on the main list and then in the order in which they appear on the supplementary list.

Where the purpose of the competition is to fill the posts of more than one institution, each candidate shall be assigned to one institution in accordance with his or her preferences.

Preferences of candidates shall be taken into account in order of merit or, where the particular status of the body so provides, in alphabetical order.

If you are admitted at a competition organized by the CNG, you are appointed a student of the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP).

The duration of schooling is 12 to 24 months depending on the body concerned.

The training includes theoretical sessions and practical placements in institutions.

At the end of the training, you are placed on an aptitude list and then assigned to a position.